[Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder].
OBJECTIVE
Determine the general features of primary gallbladder carcinoma (GBC), the diagnostic procedure and the current management as well as to analyze the experience at the National Institute of Cancer in Mexico City (INCan).


BACKGROUND
GBC is a rare and frequently lethal disease. The majority of patients are diagnosed at late clinical stages when the prognosis is poor. However in recent years several investigators have shown that radical procedures increase survival.


METHODS
A review of relevant articles regarding epidemiological features, laboratory and imaging studies together with the actual form of management according to the stage at diagnosis was made. A review of clinical records of patients with GBC at the INCan in the last 10 years was also made.


RESULTS
The prognosis of GBC carcinoma depends of the stage at the time of diagnosis, tumors confined to the gallbladder (Nevin I-III) have better prognosis than those presented with lymphadenopathy or liver invasion. Actually the surgical procedure most accepted is wedge liver resection and lymphadenectomy, because it seems to improve survival. At the INCan one hundred patients were analyzed of which only six were diagnosed with lesion Nevin I all alive with a mean follow up of 33 months, with lesions Nevin II five out of 13 are alive and were treated with wedge liver resection or radiotherapy, lesion Nevin III only 4 alive and received radiotherapy. Patients with lesions Nevin IV and V have the poorest prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
GBC is a highly lethal disease. Early diagnosis make possible to perform radical resections and improve survival.
Mondragón Sánchez
R
R
Departamento de Gastroenterología, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, México, D.F.
Saldívar Moreno
C
C
Castillero Pinilla
C M
CM
Ruíz Molina
J M
JM
Oñate Ocaña
L F
LF
Aiello Crocifoglio
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002760:Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde; D002763:Cholecystectomy; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Carcinoma primario de la vesícula biliar.